SECRETARY-GENERAL ANNOUNCES PLEDGES FOR NEW TRUST FUND TO SUPPORT UNITED NATIONS MISSION IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC, CHAD

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT), established by Security Council resolution 1778 (2007), will assist the Governments of Chad and Central African Republic to build law and order capacity to ensure the security of refugees and internally displaced persons made vulnerable by the spillover of violence from Darfur.

Towards this end, the Secretary-General has established a United Nations Trust Fund to support MINURCAT’s activities.  The Secretary-General is pleased to announce the following contributions to the Trust Fund: $2.2 million from the Government of Japan, $1 million from the Government of Norway and €250,000 from the Government of Belgium.  Discussions are advanced with the European Commission for a contribution of €10 million.

The Secretary-General appreciates these generous donations and would like to use this opportunity to invite all interested donors to support MINURCAT’s mandate through a contribution to the United Nations Trust Fund.

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